What Are Some Different Types of Palm Trees?

The most common palm species include coconut, lady, bottle, royal, Chinese, queen, Mexican, true date and palmetto. There are over 3,000 different palm tree species in the world.

Coconut palms generally grow in warm climates with moist and well-drained soil. The tree produces coconut fruit and can live up to 100 years. True date palms are drought-resistant and produce edible flowers known as dates. Bottle palms usually grow indoors, with a height of 15 feet maximum, making them one of the shortest of all palm species. Popular in warm coastal landscapes, royal palm trees grow up to 100 feet, with a growth rate of one foot per year. The tree has evergreen leaves and thrives in areas with full sun.

Mexican palms are characterized by a tall slender trunk reaching up to 75 feet or more. Lady palms are fairly short trees at 4 to 8 feet, and they grow in a shaded environment. Palmetto palms are typically erect and have no branches. They reach up to 80 feet and cannot withstand temperatures below 20 F. Queen palms generally grow in warm climates with a cold hardiness of up to 20 F. The trees reach maximum height at around 50 feet. Chinese palms are natives of China and are largely grown for landscaping purposes, reaching up to 50 feet tall.